Image sensor

ABSTRACT

An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array including first and second pixels, the first and second pixels receiving the same transfer gate signal and outputting first and second signal voltages, respectively, a transfer gate driver receiving first and second voltages and generating the transfer gate signal, the transfer gate signal having the first voltage as its maximum voltage and having the second voltage as its minimum voltage and a compensation module detecting a variation in the second voltage, generating a compensation voltage based on the variation in the second voltage, and performing a compensation operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/873,344 filed Jan. 27, 2018, which claimspriority to Korean provisional Patent Application No. 10-2017-0008770,filed on Jan. 18, 2017, and Korean non-provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2017-0179262, filed on Dec. 26, 2017 and all the benefitsaccruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the disclosures of which areincorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an image sensor.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

An image sensor is a type of device that converts an optical image intoelectrical signals. The image sensor can be classified into acharge-coupled device (CCD) type and a complementary metal oxidesemiconductor (CMOS) type. A CMOS image sensor, abbreviated as a CIS,includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.Each of the pixels includes a photodiode (PD). The PD converts incidentlight into an electrical signal.

With recent developments in the computer industry and the communicationsindustry, the demand for image sensors has increased in various fields,such as, the fields of digital cameras, camcorders, personalcommunication systems (PCSs), game devices, surveillance cameras,medical micro cameras, and robots. In addition, as semiconductor devicesare highly integrated, image sensors are also highly integrated.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide an image sensorcapable of improving its operating characteristics, such as, reducing oreliminating a band noise phenomenon.

However, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are notrestricted to those set forth herein. The above and other exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains byreferencing the detailed description of the present disclosure givenbelow.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided an image sensor comprising a pixel array including first andsecond pixels, the first and second pixels receiving the same transfergate signal and outputting first and second signal voltages,respectively, a transfer gate driver receiving first and second voltagesand generating the transfer gate signal, the transfer gate signal havingthe first voltage as its maximum voltage and having the second voltageas its minimum voltage and a compensation module detecting a variationin the second voltage, generating a compensation voltage based on thevariation in the second voltage, and performing a compensationoperation.

According to the aforementioned and other exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, there is provided an image sensor comprising a pixelarray including first and second pixels the belong to the same row, thefirst and second pixels outputting first and second signal voltages,respectively, a bias circuit connected to the pixel array and inducingthe first and second signal voltages, a transfer gate driver generatinga transfer gate signal based on first and second voltages and providingthe transfer gate signal to the first and second pixels, the transfergate signal having the first voltage as its maximum voltage and havingthe second voltage as its minimum voltage, a ramp voltage generationmodule generating a ramp voltage, a compensation module generating acompensation voltage in accordance with a variation in the secondvoltage and performing a compensation operation and an output modulegenerating a first digital code based on the ramp voltage and the firstsignal voltage and generating a second digital code based on the rampvoltage and the second signal voltage.

According to the aforementioned and other exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, there is provided an image sensor comprising aphotoelectric element accumulating charges therein by absorbing incidentlight, a transfer transistor transferring the charges to a floatingdiffusion region in accordance with a transfer gate signal, a sourcefollower outputting a voltage of the floating diffusion region as asignal voltage, a transfer gate driver applying the transfer gate signalto the transfer transistor, a compensation module generating acompensation voltage by detecting a variation in the transfer gatesignal, and performing a compensation operation using the compensationvoltage and an output module comparing the ramp voltage and the signalvoltage and outputting a digital code.

According to the aforementioned and other exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, there is provided an image sensor comprising a firstarray of conducting lines extending in a first direction, a second arrayof conducting lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction, a matrix of pixels, a transfer gate driver, and acompensation module. A pixel comprises, a photoelectric elementaccumulating charges therein by absorbing incident light, a transfertransistor transferring the charges to a floating diffusion region inresponse to a transfer gate signal, and a source follower outputting avoltage of the floating diffusion region as a signal voltage. Thetransfer gate driver may be configured for applying the transfer gatesignal to a gate of the transfer transistor through a conducting line inthe first array. The compensation module may be configured forgenerating a compensation signal that is scaled from a variation signalinduced by a variation in the voltage on a conducting line in the firstarray for receiving the transfer gate signal, the compensation modulehaving a plurality of outputs including one output for compensating thesignal voltage from the pixel using the compensation signal.

According to the aforementioned and other exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, there is provided an image sensor comprising a firstarray of conducting lines extending in a first direction, a second arrayof conducting lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction, a matrix of pixels, a transfer gate driver, acompensation module, and output module. A pixel comprises, aphotoelectric element accumulating charges therein by absorbing incidentlight, a transfer transistor transferring the charges to a floatingdiffusion region in response to a transfer gate signal, and a sourcefollower outputting a voltage of the floating diffusion region as asignal voltage. The transfer gate driver may be configured for applyingthe transfer gate signal to a gate of the transfer transistor through aconducting line in the first array. The compensation module may beconfigured for generating a ramp voltage that is proportional to a sumof an uncompensated ramp signal and a compensation signal, wherein thecompensation signal is generated based on scaling from a variationsignal induced by a variation in the voltage on a conducting line in thefirst array for receiving the transfer gate signal. The output modulemay be configured for outputting a digital code based on comparing theramp voltage and the signal voltage.

Other features and exemplary embodiments may be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other exemplary embodiments and features of the presentdisclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplaryembodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image sensor according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a pixel array illustrated inFIG. 1 according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pixel array of FIG. 2 for explaining a bandnoise phenomenon according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram for explaining the internalstructure of the pixel array of FIG. 3 according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of the image sensor of FIG. 1 according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a partial conceptual view illustrating the structure of theimage sensor of FIG. 5 according to some exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating an invertingamplifier illustrated in FIG. 5 according to some exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a time diagram illustrating the operation of the image sensorof FIGS. 5 and 7 according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating an exemplarysampling circuit of the image sensor of FIG. 9 according to someexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating another exemplarysampling circuit of the image sensor of FIG. 9 according to someexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating anexemplary ramp voltage generation module and a compensation module ofthe image sensor of FIG. 12 according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating anotherexemplary ramp voltage generation module and another compensation moduleof the image sensor of FIG. 12 according to some exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating anotherexemplary ramp voltage generation module and another compensation moduleof the image sensor of FIG. 12 according to some exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure according to some exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 17 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure according to some exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals indicate likeelements, but reference numerals for first through fourth P-type metaloxide semiconductors (PMOSs), first and second N-type metal oxidesemiconductors (NMOSs), and first and second bias NMOSs, may notnecessarily represent the same elements throughout the accompanyingdrawings.

An image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 1through 8.

According to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, thefollowing figures are presented: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustratingan image sensor, and FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagramillustrating a pixel array illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan viewof the pixel array of FIG. 2 for explaining a band noise phenomenon, andFIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram for explaining the internalstructure of the pixel array of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a partial equivalentcircuit diagram illustrating the image sensor of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is apartial conceptual view illustrating the structure of the image sensorof FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating aninverting amplifier illustrated in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a time diagramillustrating the operation of the image sensor of FIGS. 5 and 7.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image sensor according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure includes a pixel array 10 in whichpixels including photoelectric elements are arranged in atwo-dimensional matrix, a timing generator 20, a row decoder 30, a rowdriver 40, a first compensation module 1000, an output module 50, alatch module 70, and a column decoder 80.

The pixel array 10 includes a plurality of unit pixels that are arrangedin a two-dimensional matrix. Each of the unit pixels converts an opticalsignal into an electrical output signal. The unit pixel in the pixelarray 10 is driven by receiving multiple driving signals such as a rowselection signal, a reset signal, and a charge transfer signal from therow driver 40. An electrical output signal from the unit pixel in thepixel array 10 is provided to the output module 50.

The timing generator 20 provides timing signals and control signals tothe row decoder 30 and the column decoder 80.

The row driver 40 provides a plurality of driving signals for drivingthe unit pixels in the pixel array 10 in accordance with the result ofdecoding performed by the row decoder 30. In a case where the unitpixels are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, the row driver 40provides a driving signal to each of the rows of the matrix.

The first compensation module 1000 may perform a compensation operationfor preventing the generation of band noise. For example, the firstcompensation module 1000 may compensate for an output signal from a unitpixel of the pixel array 10. The first compensation module 1000 maygenerate a compensation voltage and may prevent the generation of bandnoise by adding the compensation voltage to the output signal from theunit pixel of the pixel array 10 or subtracting the compensation voltagefrom a ramp signal, and this will be described later.

The output module 50 receives the compensated output signal from thefirst compensation module 1000 via a vertical signal line and samplesand holds the received signal. For example, the output module 50double-samples a particular noise level and a signal level including anoise level caused by the compensated output signal and outputs a puresignal level corresponding to the difference between the particularnoise level and the signal level. The output module 50 converts ananalog signal corresponding to the difference between the particularnoise level and the signal level into a digital code signal. The digitalcode signal may be a signal corresponding to the brightness of lightapplied to each of the unit pixels.

The latch module 70 latches the digital code signal, and the latchedsignal is sequentially output to an image signal processing module inaccordance with the result of decoding performed by the column decoder80.

Referring to FIG. 2, pixels P are arranged in a matrix form and thusform the pixel array 10. Each of the pixels P includes a photoelectricelement PD, a floating diffusion region FD, a charge transfer transistorTX, a drive transistor DX, a reset transistor RX, and a selecttransistor SX. The functions of the photoelectric element PD, thefloating diffusion region FD, the charge transfer transistor TX, thedrive transistor DX, the reset transistor RX, and the select transistorSX will hereinafter be described, taking an i-th row of pixels P, i.e.,pixels P(i, j), P(i, j+1), P(i, j+2), P(i, j+3), . . . .

The photoelectric element PD absorbs incident light and accumulatescharges corresponding to the amount of the absorbed light. A photodiode,a photo-transistor, a photo-gate, a pinned photo-diode, or a combinationthereof may be used as the photoelectric element PD. The photoelectricelement PD is illustrated in FIG. 2 as being a photodiode according tosome exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

The photoelectric element PD is coupled to the charge transfertransistor TX, which transmits the charges accumulated in thephotoelectric element PD to the floating diffusion region FD. Since thefloating diffusion region FD has parasitic capacitance, the floatingdiffusion region FD can store charges therein accumulatively.

The drive transistor DX, which is an exemplary source follower, convertsa variation in the electric potential of the floating diffusion regionFD that receives the charges accumulated in the photoelectric element PDinto a voltage and outputs the voltage to an output line Vp(j), Vp(j+1),Vp(j+2), or Vp(j+3).

The reset transistor Rx periodically resets the floating diffusionregion FD. The reset transistor RX may consist of a single MOStransistor driven by a bias (i.e., a reset signal) provided by a resetline RG(i). In response to the reset transistor RX being turned on bythe bias provided by the reset line RG(i), a predetermined electricpotential provided to the drain of the reset transistor RX, for example,a power supply voltage VDD, is transmitted to the floating diffusionregion FD.

The select transistor SX selects a row of pixels P to be read. Theselect transistor SX may consist of a single MOS transistor driven by abias (i.e., a row selection signal) provided by a row selection lineSEL(i). In response to the select transistor SX being turned on by thebias provided by the row selection line SEL(i), a predetermined electricpotential provided to the drain of the select transistor SX, forexample, the power supply voltage VDD, is transmitted to the drain ofthe drive transistor DX.

A transmission line TG(i), which applies a bias to the charge transfertransistor TX, the reset line RG(i), which applies a bias to the resettransistor RX, and the row selection line SEL(i), which applies a biasto the select transistor SX, may extend substantially in parallel to oneanother along a row direction.

A band noise phenomenon will hereinafter be described with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4. Since in the pixel array 10, each row of pixels P sharethe same transmission line, for example, the transmission line TG(i),band noise may be generated, and this will hereinafter be described,taking the pixels P(i, j), P(i, j+1), P(i, j+2), and P(i, j+3) of FIGS.3 and 4. The pixels P(i, j), P(i, j+1), P(i, j+2), and P(i, j+3) allbelong to the i-th row.

For example, dark light may be applied to the pixels P(i, j) and P(i,j+1), and bright light WL may be applied to the pixels P(i, j+2) andP(i, j+3). The bright light WL may have a highest unit of illuminance insignals sensed and output by the image sensor of FIG. 1. For example,the bright light WL applied to the pixels P(i, j+2), P(i, j+3) may belight saturated to have the maximum unit of illuminance.

Basically, the pixels P(i, j), P(i, j+1), P(i, j+2), and P(i, j+3) ofthe pixel array 10 do not have the same properties. Thus, in response toa gate signal of the transmission line TG(i) being turned on during theoutput of a reset voltage, signal voltages Vp(j), Vp(j+1), Vp(j+2), andVp(j+3) may be output to perform correlation double sampling (CDS),which eliminates noise caused by each of the pixels P(i, j), P(i, j+1),P(i, j+2), and P(i, j+3).

Since the brighter the light applied to the pixels P(i, j), P(i, j+1),P(i, j+2), and P(i, j+3), the larger the amount of charges accumulatedin the photoelectric element PD of each of the pixels P(i, j), P(i,j+1), P(i, j+2), and P(i, j+3), the signal voltages Vp(j), Vp(j+1),Vp(j+2), and Vp(j+3) may become much lower than the reset voltage. Thus,as much a voltage drop as a first interval d1 may occur in the signalvoltages Vp(j+2) and Vp(j+3) of the pixels P(i, j+2) and P(i, j+3) towhich the bright light WL is applied.

Referring to FIG. 4, first parasitic capacitance Cp1 may exist betweenthe output terminals of the pixels P(i, j+2) and P(i, j+3) to which thebright light WL is applied and the transmission line TG(i), and secondparasitic capacitance Cp2 may exist between the floating diffusionregion FD and the transmission line TG(i). Accordingly, as a voltagedrop occurs in the output terminal and the floating diffusion region FDof each of the pixels P(i, j+2) and P(i, j+3), the voltage of thetransmission line TG(i) may become lower.

As the voltage of the transmission line TG(i) becomes lower, the signalvoltages Vp(j) and Vp(j+1) of the pixels P(i, j) and P(i, j+1) to whichdark light is applied may also become lower, and as a result, a bandnoise phenomenon in which a dark region appears bright in the shape of aband, as illustrated in FIG. 3, may occur.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the image sensor of FIG. 1 may include thepixel array 10, a transfer gate driver 42, a bias circuit 200, the firstcompensation module 1000, a ramp voltage generation module 300, and anoutput module 50.

As already mentioned above, referring to FIG. 5, the pixel array 10 mayhave an array of pixels that are arranged in rows and columns. The pixelarray 10 may include a dark pixel P_dark to which dark light is appliedand a bright pixel P_bright to which bright light is applied. The darkpixel P_dark and the bright pixel P_bright may be located in the samerow of the pixel array 10. For convenience, it is assumed that lightthat is bright enough to cause band noise is applied to the bright pixelP_bright.

The dark pixel P_dark may output a dark signal voltage Vp_dark, and thebright pixel P_bright may output a bright signal voltage Vp_bright.

The row driver 40 may include the transfer gate driver 42. The transfergate driver 42 may generate a transfer gate signal TG. The transfer gatesignal TG may be the same as the signal applied to the transmission lineTG(i) of FIGS. 2 and 4.

The transfer gate driver 42 may generate the transfer gate signal TGusing first and second voltages Vptg and Vntg. For example, the maximumlevel of the transfer gate signal TG may be the first voltage Vptg, andthe minimum level of the transfer gate signal TG may be the secondvoltage Vntg.

In some embodiments, in a scenario when a compensation operation is notperformed by the first compensation module 1000, a voltage dropindicated as the first interval d1 may occur in a first bright signalvoltage Vp_bright1, which is the output voltage of the bright pixelP_bright, because of the bright light applied to the bright pixelP_bright. As a result, in some situations, the second voltage Vntg maybecome slightly lower. For example, the second voltage Vntg may belowered by as much as a second interval d2. The second interval d2 maybe smaller than the first interval d1 because the second interval d2 isgenerated by the first and second parasitic capacitances Cp1 and Cp2.

Since the second interval d2 is generated when a compensation operationis not performed by the first compensation module 1000, a first darksignal voltage Vp_dark1, which is the output voltage of the dark pixelP_dark, may become lower.

The bias circuit 200 may modify the output voltage of each pixel of thepixel array 10. In some embodiments, when the output terminal of eachpixel of the pixel array 10 is composed of a source follower, the biascircuit 200 may modify the output of each pixel of the pixel array 10 bycompleting the configuration of the source follower of each pixel of thepixel array 10.

The bias circuit 200 may form a bias current via a first PMOS P1, acurrent source I, and the power supply voltage VDD, and may mirror thebias current via a mirror circuit including a first bias PMOS MP1, afirst bias NMOS MN1, a second bias NMOS MN2, and a first NMOS N1. Asused herein, the term “mirroring” refers to allowing a current thatflows at one end to flow at the other end in the same magnitude or ascaled magnitude that is scaled from the same magnitude. The scaledmagnitude in which to mirror a current may be determined by thecurrent-voltage characteristics of each PMOS/NMOS element.

The bias circuit 200 of FIG. 5 is merely exemplary, and the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the image sensor of FIG.5 may employ a bias circuit 200 having a different configuration fromthat illustrated in FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the first compensation module1000 may detect a variation in the second voltage Vntg. For example, thefirst compensation module 1000 may detect a drop in the second voltageVntg induced by a variation in the voltage of the transmission lineTG(i) that is connected to the transfer gate driver 42. The firstcompensation module 1000 may invert a variation in the second voltageVntg. The first compensation module 1000 may generate a firstcompensation voltage Vcomp1 by inverting a variation in the secondvoltage Vntg. The first compensation voltage Vcomp1 may be obtained byscaling a variation in the second voltage Vntg.

In some embodiments, the first compensation module 1000 may detect avariation in the voltage of the transmission line TG(i) that isconnected to the transfer gate driver 42. For example, the firstcompensation module 1000 may detect a variation in the voltage of theconducting line for receiving the transfer gate signal. A firstcompensation voltage Vcomp1 may be generated by scaling the variation inthe voltage on the transmission line TG(i) (i.e., the conducting linefor receiving the transfer gate signal). In some embodiments, the firstcompensation voltage Vcomp1 may be generated at the output of a bufferamplifier that has an input connecting to the transmission line TG(i)that is connected to the transfer gate driver 42

The first compensation voltage Vcomp1 may be transmitted to the biascircuit 200. For example, the first compensation voltage Vcomp1 may betransmitted to the gate terminal of the first bias PMOS MP1 of the biascircuit 200.

The first compensation module 1000 may include a mirroring circuitportion of the bias circuit 200. The first compensation module 1000 mayscale the first compensation voltage Vcomp1 to obtain a compensationvoltage Vcomp and may further transmit the compensation voltage Vcomp tothe corresponding pixel units for adding the compensation voltage Vcompto the dark signal voltage Vp_dark and the bright signal voltageVp_bright.

For example, the first compensation voltage Vcomp1 may be scaled into asecond compensation voltage Vcomp2 via the first bias PMOS MP1 and thefirst bias NMOS MN1, and the second compensation voltage Vcomp2 may bescaled into the compensation voltage Vcomp via the second bias NMOS MN2and the first NMOS N1.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the dark pixel P_dark and the bright pixelP_bright may output the first dark signal voltage Vp_dark 1 and thefirst bright signal voltage Vp_bright1. The first compensation module1000 may generate the first compensation voltage Vcomp1, and scale thefirst compensation voltage Vcomp1 to obtain a compensation voltageVcomp. The compensation voltage Vcomp may be added to the first darksignal voltage Vp_dark1 and the first bright signal voltage Vp_bright1.By adding this compensation voltage Vcomp, the final output voltage ofthe dark pixel P_dark may become the dark signal voltage Vp_dark, andthe final output voltage of the bright pixel P_bright may become thebright signal voltage Vp_bright.

Due to a band noise phenomenon, an unintended voltage drop may occur inthe first dark signal voltage Vp_dark1, but such voltage drop in thefirst dark signal voltage Vp_dark1 may be offset by adding thecompensation voltage Vcomp to the first dark signal voltage Vp_dark1.Accordingly, a band noise phenomenon in the dark pixel P_dark can beprevented.

On the other hand, a voltage drop in the first bright signal voltageVp_bright1 may be reduced from the first interval d1 to a third intervald3 by the compensation voltage Vcomp. For example, the third interval d3may be smaller than the first interval d1. The third interval d3 may bean interval obtained by excluding the compensation voltage Vcomp fromthe first interval d1.

The first bright signal voltage Vp_bright1 and the bright signal voltageVp_bright may both have a maximum level when they are converted into asecond digital code “code2” that will be described later. For example,since light whose illuminance is high enough to cause band noise alreadyhas a saturated output, the addition of the compensation voltage Vcompdoes not change, or hardly affects, the result. Thus, the image sensorof FIG. 5 can eliminate band noise in the dark pixel P_dark withoutchanging the result value of the bright pixel P_bright.

Referring to FIG. 6, the ramp voltage generation module 300 may generatea ramp voltage Vramp. The ramp voltage Vramp is a signal for convertingan analog signal into a digital signal and may have the shape of atriangular wave.

The output module 50 may include a comparator unit 400 and a counter500.

The comparator unit 400 may include first and second comparators 410 and420. FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the comparator unit 400includes two comparators, but in another example, the comparator unit400 may include as many comparators as there are columns in the pixelarray 10. For example, a signal voltage output by each column of thepixel array 10 may be compared with the ramp voltage Vramp using acorresponding comparator in the comparator unit 400.

The first comparator 410 may compare the ramp voltage Vramp and the darksignal voltage Vp_dark and may output a first comparison signal comp1.The first comparison signal comp1 may be a binary digital signalobtained by comparing the ramp voltage Vramp and the dark signal voltageVp_dark. For example, if the ramp voltage Vramp is higher than the darksignal voltage Vp_dark, the first comparison signal comp1 may be outputas “1”, and if the ramp voltage Vramp is lower than the dark signalvoltage Vp_dark, the first comparison signal comp1 may be output as “0”.In another example, if the ramp voltage Vramp is higher than the darksignal voltage Vp_dark, the first comparison signal comp1 may be outputas “0”, and if the ramp voltage Vramp is lower than the dark signalvoltage Vp_dark, the first comparison signal comp1 may be output as “1”.

The second comparator 420 may compare the ramp voltage Vramp and thebright signal voltage Vp_bright and may output a second comparisonsignal comp2. The second comparison signal comp2 may be a binary digitalsignal obtained by comparing the ramp voltage Vramp and the brightsignal voltage Vp_bright.

The counter 500 may receive the first and second comparison signalscomp1 and comp2 and may perform counting in accordance with a clocksignal. In one embodiments, the counter 500 may measure how many edgesof the clock signal have occurred separately during each of the two timeperiod as identified by the first and second comparison signals comp1and comp2, such that the counter 500 may provide illuminance informationof incident light applied to each of the dark pixel P_dark and thebright pixel P_bright as digital information. For example, the counter500 may generate a first digital code “code1” by counting the clocksignal with the first comparison signal comp1, and may generate a seconddigital code “code2” by counting the clock signal with the secondcomparison signal comp2.

As the first and second comparison signals comp1 and comp2 increasetheir time duration, the counts of the clock signal associated with thefirst and second comparison signals comp1 and comp2, produced by thecounter 500, become greater, and as a result, the values of the firstand second digital codes “code1” and “code2” become greater. Forexample, the lengths of the first and second comparison signals comp1and comp2 are proportional to the magnitudes of the dark signal voltageVp_dark and the bright signal voltage Vp_bright. The magnitudes of thedark signal voltage Vp_dark and the bright signal voltage Vp_bright maycorrespond to the illuminance of light applied to each pixel.Consequently, the first and second digital codes “code1” and “code2” maycorrespond to the illuminance of light applied to each pixel.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first compensation module 1000 may include aninverting amplifier 120. For example, the first compensation module 1000may be a circuit in which a reference voltage Vref is applied to thepositive terminal of an operational amplifier 110 and a first variablecapacitor C1 and the second voltage Vntg are connected to the negativeterminal of the operational amplifier 110. The negative terminal of theoperational amplifier 110 may be connected to a compensation outputvoltage Vsc_out via a second variable capacitor C2, and a second switchS2 may be provided in parallel to the second variable capacitor C2.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, a third capacitor C3 may be provided betweenthe compensation output voltage Vsc_out and a gate terminal Vbp of thefirst bias PMOS MP1.

A first switch S1 of the bias circuit 200 is connected to the thirdcapacitor C3. The first switch S1 reduces noise at the front end thereofand allows the first compensation voltage Vcomp1 to vary in accordancewith variations in the compensation output voltage Vsc_out. The secondswitch S2 of the first compensation module 1000 may be used to set aninitial voltage of the inverting amplifier 120. Thus, the first andsecond switches S1 and S2 may operate simultaneously to be initiallyclosed and then to be continuously open.

The first compensation voltage Vcomp1 may be a voltage obtained bymultiplying a variation in the second voltage Vntg, i.e., ΔVntg, by again −A of the inverting amplifier 120, i.e., −C1/C2. Here, C1 denotesthe capacitance of the first variable capacitor C1, and C2 denotes thecapacitance of the second variable capacitor C2. That is,ΔVcomp1=ΔVntg×−C1/C2.

The second compensation voltage Vcomp2 may be a voltage obtained byscaling the first compensation voltage Vcomp1 via the first bias PMOSMP1 and the first bias NMOS MN1. That is, ΔVcomp2=ΔVcomp1×−gmp1/gmn1.Here, gmp1 denotes the transconductance of the first bias PMOS MP1, andgmn1 denotes the transconductance of the first bias NMOS MN1.

The compensation voltage Vcomp may be a voltage obtained by scaling thesecond compensation voltage Vcomp via the second bias NMOS MN2 and theselect transistor SX of the dark pixel P_dark. The compensation voltageVcomp may also be a voltage obtained by scaling the second compensationvoltage Vcomp via the first NMOS N1 and the select transistor SX of thebright pixel P_bright.

Assuming that the second bias NMOS MN2 and the first NMOS N1 have thesame transconductance and the select transistor SX of the dark pixelP_dark and the select transistor SX of the bright pixel P_bright havethe same transconductance, the compensation voltage Vcomp applied to thedark pixel P_dark and the compensation voltage Vcomp applied to thebright pixel P_bright may be the same.

That is, ΔVcomp=ΔVcomp2×−gmn2/gmn3. Here, gmn2 denotes thetransconductance of the second NMOS MN2 and the first NMOS N1, and gmn3denotes the transconductance of the select transistor SX of the darkpixel P_dark and the select transistor SX of the bright pixel P_bright.

Thus, ΔVcomp=ΔVntg×−C1/C2×−gmp1/gmn1×−gmn2/gmn3. Since gmp1, gmn1, gmn2,and gmn3 are parameters that are relatively easy to control, thecompensation voltage Vcomp can be appropriately scaled by controllingthe capacitances of the first and second variable capacitors C1 and C2.

The operation of the image sensor of FIG. Swill hereinafter be describedwith reference to FIGS. 5, 7, and 8. A selection signal SEL forselecting a row of the pixel array 10 may be turned on first, and then,a reset gate signal RG for the reset voltage that is continuously outputmay be turned off at a first time T1. The first and second switches S1and S2 that are closed for setting an initial state and eliminatingnoise from the power supply voltage VDD may be opened at a second timeT2.

Thereafter, the transfer gate signal TG may be turned on at a third timeT3. As a result, the charges accumulated in the photoelectric element PDmay be transmitted to the floating diffusion region FD. The transfergate signal TG may be turned off at a fourth time T4.

Due to the parasitic capacitor of the bright pixel P_bright, the secondvoltage Vntg may drop during a period between the third time T3 and thefourth time T4. FIG. 8 illustrates the second voltage Vntg as droppingat the fourth time T4, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. The second voltage Vntg may slowly drop over the period betweenthe third time T3 and the fourth time T4.

Due to the drop in the second voltage Vntg, the compensation outputvoltage Vsc_out of the first compensation module 1000 may have the samelevel as a voltage that is inverted by a variation in the second voltageVntg, i.e., the first compensation voltage Vcomp1. Accordingly, a gatevoltage Vbp of the first bias PMOS MP1 may have the same level as thefirst compensation voltage Vcomp1.

Thereafter, when the output of each pixel is complete, the reset gatesignal RG may be turned on again at a fifth time T5.

The image sensor of FIG. Scan reduce a band noise phenomenon in whichpixels to which bright light is applied affect other pixels in their rowand can thus produce better sensing results.

According to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, acompensation module is disclosed above to generate a ramp voltage thatis proportional to a sum of an uncompensated ramp signal (e.g., the rampvoltage Vramp) and a compensation signal (e.g., the compensation voltageVcomp).The compensation signal may be generated based on scaling from avariation signal induced by a variation in a voltage (e.g., a variationin the transfer gate signal TG) on the conducting line for receiving thetransfer gate signal. In some embodiments, the induced variation signalmay be second interval d2 in the second voltage Vntg, and thecompensation signal may be scaled from this second interval d2 in thesecond voltage Vntg. In other embodiments, the induced variation signalcan be other signal change induced by the variation in the transfer gatesignal TG.

An image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9through 11, and any redundant descriptions of the image sensor of FIG. 5will be avoided.

FIG. 9 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure, and FIG. 10 is an equivalent circuit diagramillustrating an exemplary sampling circuit of the image sensor of FIG.9. FIG. 11 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating anotherexemplary sampling circuit of the image sensor of FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the image sensor according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure may include a first samplingcircuit 210.

The first sampling circuit 210 may be disposed between a first switch S1and a first bias PMOS MP1 of a bias circuit 200. The first samplingcircuit 210 may reduce noise at the front end of the first switch S1together with the first switch S1.

Referring to FIG. 10, the first sampling circuit 210 may include afourth variable capacitor C4, which is connected to a voltage VA. Thefirst sampling circuit 210 may control a power supply rejection ratio(PSRR) characteristic by matching the gate voltage of a PMOS to a powersupply voltage VDD or a ground voltage VSS.

The fourth variable capacitor C4 of the first sampling circuit 210 maybe used to control the gain of a first compensation module 1000.

That is, ΔVcomp1=ΔVntg×−C1/C2×C3/(C3+C4).

Here, C3 denotes the capacitance of a third capacitor C3, and C4 denotesthe capacitance of the fourth variable capacitor C4.

Finally, ΔVcomp=ΔVntg×−C1/C2×C3/(C3+C4)×−gmp1/gmn1×−gmn2/gmn3.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9 through 11, the capacitance ofthe third capacitor C3 may be fixed, but the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. The third capacitor C3 may also be a variablecapacitor, in which case, the capacitance of the third capacitor C3 maybe an adjustable parameter.

In a case where the capacitances of first and second capacitors C1 andC2 and the capacitances of the third and fourth capacitors C3 and C4 areall adjustable parameters, the scaling of a compensation voltage Vcompcan be further facilitated. Also, in the case of an inverting amplifier,noise may have an output that has less influence as compared to itsdegree of amplification. Thus, a maximum gain can be set using the firstand second capacitors C1 and C2, and a detailed scaling can be performedusing the third and fourth capacitors C3 and C4 that are more affectedby noise.

Referring to FIG. 11, the image sensor according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure may include a second samplingcircuit 211.

The second sampling circuit 211 may include first, second, and thirdsub-capacitors C4_1, C4_2, and C4_3. FIG. 11 illustrates an example inwhich the second sampling circuit 211 has three sub-capacitors, but thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto. In another example, thesecond sampling circuit 211 may have two sub-capacitors or four or moresub-capacitors.

The first and second sub-capacitors C4_1 and C4_2 may be connected to apower supply voltage VDD, and the third sub-capacitor C4_3 may begrounded. The first and second sub-capacitors C4_1 and C4_2 may performthe functions of the fourth variable capacitor C4 of FIG. 10. Forexample, the first and second sub-capacitors C4_1 and C4_2 may alleviatenoise in the power supply voltage VDD.

Since the output of a pixel array 10 has noise because of the powersupply voltage VDD, the third sub-capacitor C4_3 may be grounded toalleviate the noise in the output of the pixel array 10. FIG. 11illustrates an example in which the second sampling circuit 211 isconnected to the power supply voltage VDD and a ground voltage at aratio of 2:1, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Theratio at which the second sampling circuit 211 is connected to the powersupply voltage VDD and the ground voltage may vary as necessary.

An image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and13, and any redundant descriptions of the image sensors of FIGS. 5 and 9through 11 will be avoided.

FIG. 12 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure, and FIG. 13 is a partial equivalent circuitdiagram illustrating an exemplary ramp voltage generation module and acompensation module of the image sensor of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 12, the image sensor according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure may compensate for a ramp voltageVramp, instead of a dark signal voltage Vp_dark and a bright signalvoltage Vp_bright.

Referring to FIG. 12, a second compensation module 1001 may perform acompensation operation. The second compensation module 1001 may add anon-inverted compensation voltage Vcomp to an uncompensated ramp signalto generate a ramp voltage that is compensated. A comparison module 400produces the difference between the compensated ramp voltage and thedark signal voltage Vp_dark or the bright signal voltage Vp_bright anduses such difference to generate its output, for preventing theoccurrence of band noise simply by compensating for the ramp voltageVramp.

For example, referring to FIG. 13, the second compensation module 1001may invert the second voltage Vntg via an inverting amplifier 120 andmay provide the inverted second voltage Vntg as a gate voltage of afirst bias PMOS MP1.

In this case, ΔVbp=ΔVntg×−A.

Here, Vbp denotes the gate voltage of the first bias PMOS MP1, and −Adenotes the gain of the inverting amplifier 120.

The first bias PMOS MP1 may be the mirror circuit of a circuitconsisting of a second PMOS P2 and a first current source lal. Thesecond bias PMOS MP2 may be connected to the mirror circuit of a circuitconsisting of a first PMOS P1 and a second current source Ia2 and may becascode-connected to the first bias PMOS MP1. In this manner, the draincurrents of the first second bias PMOS s MP1 and MP2 can be stabilized.

A variation in the current of the first PMOS MP1 may be represented asΔVbp×−gmp1. Here, gmp1 denotes the transconductance of the first biasPMOS MP1. The current of the first bias PMOS MP1 flows to a rampresistor Rramp, and a voltage drop occurs. This voltage drop may be thecompensation voltage Vcomp.

Accordingly, ΔVcomp=ΔVntg×−A×−gmp1×Rramp.

Here, Rramp denotes the resistance of the ramp resistor Rramp. Bysetting −gmp1 to be variable, the compensation voltage Vcomp can beeasily controlled.

The ramp voltage Vramp is generated by adding up a first ramp voltageVrampl, which is generated by a ramp current Tramp via the ramp resistorRramp, and the compensation voltage Vcomp.

An image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and14, and any redundant descriptions of the image sensors of FIGS. 5, 9through 11, and 13 will be avoided.

FIG. 14 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating anotherexemplary ramp voltage generation module and another compensation moduleof the image sensor of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 14, a third compensation module 1002 may add anon-inverted compensation voltage Vcomp to an uncompensated ramp signalto generate a ramp voltage that is compensated by the compensationvoltage Vcomp.

For example, referring to FIG. 14, the third compensation module 1002may provide a variation in the second voltage Vntg as a gate voltage ofa first bias NMOS MN1 via a non-inverting amplifier 130. In this case,ΔVbn=ΔVntg×A. Here, Vbn denotes the gate voltage of the first bias NMOSMN1, and A denotes the gain of the non-inverting amplifier 130.

The first bias NMOS MN1 may be a mirror circuit consisting of a secondNMOS N2 and a third current source Ia3. The first bias NMOS MN1 may beconnected in series to a first bias PMOS MP1, and a second bias PMOS MP2may be scaled in accordance with the current voltage characteristics ofthe first bias NMOS MN1 and the first bias PMOS MP1. That is,ΔVbp=ΔVbn×−gmn1/gmp1. Here, gmn1 denotes the transconductance of thefirst bias NMOS MN1. By setting gmn1 and gmp1 to be variable, thecompensation voltage Vcomp can be easily controlled.

A third bias PMOS MP3 may be connected to the mirror circuit of acircuit consisting of a fourth PMOS P4 and a fourth current source Ia4and may be cascode-connected to the second bias PMOS MP2. In thismanner, the drain currents of the second and third PMOSs MP2 and MP3 canbe stabilized.

A variation in the current of the second PMOS MP2 may be represented asΔVbp×−gmp2. Here, gmp2 denotes the transconductance of the second biasPMOS MP2. The current of the second bias PMOS MP2 flows to a rampresistor Rramp, and a voltage drop is generated. This voltage drop maybe the compensation voltage Vcomp.

Accordingly, ΔVcomp=ΔVntg×A×−gmn1/gmp1×−gmp2×Rramp.

The ramp voltage Vramp is generated by adding a first ramp voltageVramp1, which is generated by a ramp current Tramp via the ramp resistorRramp, and the compensation voltage Vcomp.

An image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and15, and any redundant descriptions of the image sensors of FIGS. 5, 9through 11, 13, and 14 will be avoided.

FIG. 15 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating anotherexemplary ramp voltage generation module and another compensation moduleof the image sensor of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 15, the image sensor according to someexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may include a fourthcompensation module 1003.

The fourth compensation module 1003 may include a fifth variablecapacitor C5, instead of the non-inverting amplifier 130 of FIG. 14.

The fifth variable capacitor C5 may transmit a signal without amplifyingit. Thus, ΔVbn=ΔVntg.

Accordingly, ΔVcomp=ΔVntg×−gmn1/gmp1×−gmp2×Rramp.

An image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 16, andany redundant descriptions of the image sensors of FIGS. 5, 9 through11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 will be avoided.

FIG. 16 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16, the image sensor according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure may include a fifth compensationmodule 1004.

The fifth compensation module 1004 may include a fourth bias PMOS MP4.The fourth bias PMOS MP4 may receive a first ramp voltage Vramp1 as itsgate voltage and may be connected in series to a third bias PMOS MP3. Asecond bias PMOS MP2 may be connected to the mirror circuit of a firstbias PMOS MP1. The gate voltage of the second bias PMOS MP2 may bescaled by the current voltage characteristics of a first bias NMOS MN1and the first bias PMOS MP1.

In accordance with the voltage current characteristics of the second andfourth bias PMOSs MP2 and MP4, ΔVcomp=ΔVbp×−gmp2/gmp4.

Accordingly, considering that ΔVbn=ΔVntg×A and ΔVbp=ΔVbn×−gmn1/gmp1,ΔVcomp=ΔVntg×A×−gmn1/gmp1×−gmp2/gmp4.

An image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 17, andany redundant descriptions of the image sensors of FIGS. 5, 9 through11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 will be avoided.

FIG. 17 is a partial equivalent circuit diagram illustrating thestructure of an image sensor according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 17, the image sensor according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure may include a sixth compensationmodule 1005.

The sixth compensation module 1005 may include fifth and sixth variablecapacitors C5 and C6, instead of a non-inverting amplifier 130 of FIG.16.

Accordingly, a compensation voltage Vcomp may be represented by thefollowing equation: ΔVcomp=ΔVntg×C5/(C5+C6)×−gmn1/gmp1×−gmp2/gmp4.

Here, C5 denotes the capacitance of the fifth variable capacitor C5, andC6 denotes the capacitance of the sixth variable capacitor C6.

The sixth variable capacitor C6 of the sixth compensation module 1005may perform the same functions as the first sampling circuit 210 ofFIGS. 9 and 10 or the second sampling circuit 211 of FIG. 11. Thus, inthe sixth variable capacitor C6, like in the second sampling circuit 211of FIG. 11, multiple capacitors may be provided. In this case, some ofthe multiple capacitors may be connected to a power supply voltage VDD,and the other capacitor(s) may be grounded.

As described above, according to some exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, a compensation module is provided to generate a rampvoltage that is proportional to a sum of an uncompensated ramp signaland a compensation signal. An output module is provided to output adigital code based on comparing the ramp voltage and the signal voltage.Here, the compensation signal is generated based on scaling from avariation signal induced by a variation in a voltage on the conductingline in the first array for receiving the transfer gate signal. In someembodiments, referring to FIG. 5, the induced variation signal may bethe second interval d2 in the second voltage Vntg, and the compensationsignal may be scaled from this second interval d2 in the second voltageVntg. In other embodiments, the induced variation signal may be othersignal change induced by the variation in the transfer gate signal TG.Generally, the induced variation signal may be induced by a variation inthe voltage on a conducting line for receiving the transfer gate signal.

In some embodiments, the compensation module may include a currentsource (e.g., Tramp in FIGS. 13-15) outputting a ramp current as theuncompensated ramp signal, and a first transistor (e.g., MP1 in FIG. 13or MP2 in FIGS. 14-17) generating a compensation current in itssemiconductor channel as the compensation signal. In some embodiments,the compensation module may include a resistor (e.g., Rramp in FIGS.13-15) receiving the ramp current and the compensation current togenerate the ramp voltage.

In some embodiments, the compensation module may include a secondtransistor (e.g., MP2 in FIG. 13 or MP3 in FIGS. 14-17) having itssemiconductor channel connected to the semiconductor channel of thefirst transistor. In some embodiments, the compensation module mayinclude a third transistor (e.g., MP1 in FIGS. 14-17) having is gateconnected to the gate of the first transistor, and a fourth transistor(e.g., MN1 in FIGS. 14-17) having its semiconductor channel connected tothe semiconductor channel of the third transistor.

In some embodiments, the compensation module may include a fifthtransistor (e.g., MP4 in FIGS. 16-17), and the semiconductor channel ofthe second transistor is connected between the semiconductor channel ofthe first transistor and the semiconductor channel of the fifthtransistor. The fifth transistor may have its gate receiving anuncompensated ramp voltage as the uncompensated ramp signal.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image sensor comprising: a first array ofconducting lines extending in a first direction; a second array ofconducting lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction; a matrix of pixels wherein a pixel comprises, aphotoelectric element accumulating charges therein by absorbing incidentlight, a transfer transistor transferring the charges to a floatingdiffusion region in response to a transfer gate signal, and a sourcefollower outputting a voltage of the floating diffusion region as asignal voltage; a transfer gate driver applying the transfer gate signalto a gate of the transfer transistor through a conducting line in thefirst array; and a compensation module generating a compensation signalthat is scaled from a variation signal induced by a variation in thevoltage on a conducting line in the first array for receiving thetransfer gate signal, the compensation module having a plurality ofoutputs including one output for compensating the signal voltage fromthe pixel using the compensation signal.
 2. The image sensor of claim 1,wherein the transfer gate driver receives first and second voltages, thetransfer gate signal have the first voltage as its maximum voltage andhaving the second voltage as its minimum voltage, and the variationsignal is a variation in the second voltage.
 3. The image sensor ofclaim 1, wherein the variation signal is from an output of a bufferamplifier having input receiving the variation in the voltage on theconducting line in the first array.
 4. The image sensor of claim 1,wherein the compensation module further comprises: an amplifierreceiving the variation signal and outputting a first compensationvoltage that is scaled from the variation signal, and the compensationsignal is scaled from the first compensation voltage.
 5. The imagesensor of claim 4, wherein the compensation module further comprises: aplurality of transistors wherein a transistor having a gate thereofreceiving a second compensation voltage scaled from the firstcompensation voltage and having a terminal of a semiconductor channelthereof providing the compensation signal on a conducting line in thesecond array that receives the signal voltage from the pixel.
 6. Theimage sensor of claim 1, wherein the compensation signal is acompensation voltage, and the one of the outputs in the compensationmodule is connected to a conducting line in the second array thatreceives the signal voltage from the pixel and provides a compensatedsignal voltage that is a sum of the signal voltage and the compensationvoltage.
 7. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the compensation signalis a compensation voltage, further comprising: a ramp voltage generationmodule generating a ramp voltage; and an output module receiving theramp voltage and a compensated signal voltage that is a sum of thesignal voltage and the compensation voltage, and the output moduleoutputting a digital code based on comparing the ramp voltage and thecompensated signal voltage.
 8. An image sensor comprising: a first arrayof conducting lines extending in a first direction; a second array ofconducting lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction; a matrix of pixels wherein a pixel comprises, aphotoelectric element accumulating charges therein by absorbing incidentlight, a transfer transistor transferring the charges to a floatingdiffusion region in response to a transfer gate signal, and a sourcefollower outputting a voltage of the floating diffusion region as asignal voltage; a transfer gate driver applying the transfer gate signalto a gate of the transfer transistor through a conducting line in thefirst array; a compensation module generating a ramp voltage that isproportional to a sum of an uncompensated ramp signal and a compensationsignal, wherein the compensation signal is generated based on scalingfrom a variation signal induced by a variation in the voltage on aconducting line in the first array for receiving the transfer gatesignal; and an output module outputting a digital code based oncomparing the ramp voltage and the signal voltage.
 9. The image sensorof claim 8, wherein the compensation module comprises: a current sourceoutputting a ramp current as the uncompensated ramp signal; a firsttransistor generating a compensation current in a semiconductor channelthereof as the compensation signal; a resistor receiving the rampcurrent and the compensation current to generate the ramp voltage; and asecond transistor having a semiconductor channel thereof connectedbetween the semiconductor channel of the first transistor and theresistor.
 10. The image sensor of claim 9, wherein the first transistorhas a gate thereof receiving a first compensation voltage that is scaledfrom the variation in the voltage on the conducting line in the firstarray for receiving the transfer gate signal.
 11. The image sensor ofclaim 9, wherein the compensation module further comprises: a thirdtransistor having a gate thereof connected to the gate of the firsttransistor; and a fourth transistor having a semiconductor channelthereof connected to a semiconductor channel of the third transistor,and wherein the fourth transistor has a gate thereof receiving a firstcompensation voltage that is scaled from the variation in the voltage onthe conducting line in the first array for receiving the transfer gatesignal.
 12. The image sensor of claim 11, wherein the compensationmodule further comprises: an amplifier that has an input thereofreceiving the variation signal, and the gate of fourth transistorreceives the first compensation voltage from an output of the amplifier.13. The image sensor of claim 11, further comprising: a variablecapacitor, and the gate of fourth transistor receives the firstcompensation voltage through the variable capacitor.
 14. The imagesensor of claim 8, wherein the compensation module comprises: a currentsource outputting a ramp current as the uncompensated ramp signal; afirst transistor generating a compensation current in a semiconductorchannel thereof as the compensation signal; a second transistor having asemiconductor channel connected to the semiconductor channel of thefirst transistor; a third transistor having a gate thereof connected tothe gate of the first transistor; a fourth transistor having asemiconductor channel thereof connected to a semiconductor channel ofthe third transistor, and wherein the fourth transistor has a gatethereof receiving a first compensation voltage that is scaled from thevariation in the voltage on the conducting line in the first array forreceiving the transfer gate signal; a fifth transistor having asemiconductor channel, and wherein the semiconductor channel of thesecond transistor is connected between the semiconductor channel of thefirst transistor and the semiconductor channel of the fifth transistor;and wherein the fifth transistor has a gate thereof receiving anuncompensated ramp voltage as the uncompensated ramp signal.
 15. Theimage sensor of claim 14, wherein the compensation module furthercomprises: an amplifier that has an input thereof receiving thevariation signal, and the gate of fourth transistor receives the firstcompensation voltage from an output of the amplifier.
 16. The imagesensor of claim 14, further comprising: a variable capacitor, and thegate of fourth transistor receives the first compensation voltagethrough the variable capacitor.